WEBVTT SOLEDAD: AT THIS TRULY HISTORIC SITE, GEORGE WASHINGTON BECAMEPRESIDENT.AT THE TIME, U.S. TERRITORIES EXTENDED WEST ONLY TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THERE WAS NO MIDDLE AMERICA. TODAY, LEBANON, KANSAS, A TOWNOF APPROXIMATELY 200 PEOPLE, IS DEFINITELY "MIDDLE AMERICA." AT THE VERY GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE LOWER 48 STATES, THE MEN ANDWOMEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO MEET CALLLEBANON HOME. THIS IS TRUMP COUNTRY, WHERE HE WON MORE THAN 2/3 OF THE VOTE.THEY'RE HOPING FOR CHANGE BUT FEAR THEIR WAY OF LIFE MAY BE DISAPPEARING. THE ICE MELTS AND THE SUN RISES IN LEBANON, KANSAS. IT'S A NEW DAY HERE.MILES AND HOURS FROM THE NEARESTMAJOR CITY. >> LEBANON'S SMALL. IT'S AN ELDERLY COMMUNITY.SOLEDAD: THAT'S NOW HOW IT USED TO BE.>> WE HAD SCHOOLS HERE, WHICH WEDON'T HAVE NOW. SOLEDAD: THE SCHOOLS AREN'T THE ONLY THING GONE.LEBANON HAD SEVEN GROCERY STORES, MORE FARMS AND MORE PEOPLE. MAIN STREET WAS FILLED WITH HOUSES AND BUSINESSES.NOW THERE ARE FEWER THAN 200 PEOPLE. GLADIES KENNEDY WILL BE 100 NEXTMONTH.SHE'S WATCHED HER CITY DISAPPEAR.>> THERE WAS A DOCTOR AND A HOSPITAL AT ONE TIME. THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE FARMING THEN. >> WE CONTINUE TO BE OVERREGULATED AND RESTRICTED IN WHAT WE CAN DO. SO IT AFFECTS JOBS AND LIFE IN GENERAL.SOLEDAD: RICK CHAPIN HAS LIVED HERE HIS WHOLE LIFE.HE'S THE MAYOR AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.>> WE NEED TO MAKE IT A PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO AND LIVE AND RAISE YOUR CHILDREN. SOLEDAD: DENISE MARK HAM IS THE CITY LIBRARY. -- LIBRARIAN. SHE CAME AFTER LIVING IN DENVER.>> I ENJOY THE CALM AND PEACE HERE. SOLEDAD: SHE KNOWS SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.>> WE NEED SOME YOUNGER PEOPLE. EVEN AS THE LIBRARIAN.THE LIBRARY IS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.EVEN AS WE SIT HERE WE ARE OPEN AND NOBODY IS COMING IN I WONDERWHAT WILL HAPPEN. SURF LEBANON IS TOO IMPORTANT TOVANISH. THE CITY IS THE EXACT GEOGRAPHICCENTER OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITEDSTATES. 81% OF SMITH COUNTY, WHERE LEBANON SITS, VOTED FOR TRUMP.NOW THERE'S MIXED FEELINGS ABOUTTHE NEWLY INAUGURATED PRESIDENT TRUMP.>> YOU DON'T EVER GET TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE YOU REALLY THINK IS GOING TO DO THE JOB.IT'S THE LESSER OF TWOEST.SOLEDAD: MAYOR CHAPIN VOTED FOR GARY JOHNSON. >> I WAS HOPING A THIRD PARTY WOULD HAVE A BETTER SHOWING.SOLEDAD: GLADYS HAS SEEN MORE NEW PRESIDENTS ENAUGUST RATED THAN MOST PEOPLE. SHE VOTED FOR TRUMP.>> I THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO TURN AROUND.SOLEDAD: DENISE, THE LIBRARIAN, DIDN'T VOTE.>> I DIDN'T LIKE THE CHOICES I HAD AND I WASN'T GOING TO JUST PICK ONE TO PICK ONE. I'M A STRONG BELIEVER IN VOTING.I TOOK MY SON DOWN TO SEE THE POLLS AND THE PROCESS BUT I EXPLAINED TO HIM WHY I WASN'T VOTING. SOIFPBLE HER HUSBAND DIDN'T VOTEEITHER. >> HE DISLIKED HILLARY BUT HE COULDN'T BRING HIMSELF TO VOTE FOR TRUMP.>> I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT THINGS WILL BE BETTER. SOLEDAD: FOR MANY, IT'S NOT A LACK OF HOME. >> I BELIEVE HE'S GOING TO DO HIS BEST. >> YOU HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.IN THE CENTER OF THE UNITED STATES THAT'S THE WAY THEY THINKAND PEOPLE KEEP WONDERING WHY NOTHING GETS DONE.EVERYBODY EXPECTS SOMETHING BUT I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I CAN

Middle America: A New Hope in President Trump

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Updated: 10:08 AM CST Jan 28, 2017

At the exact middle of the continental United States lies a once thriving town Lebanon, KS, that now has a population of just 200 residents. This is Trump country, where he won by an overwhelming percentage. We speak with residents of this shrinking town about their fears today, their hopes for the future and what they view as their realism about America.